Health Care Reform

How the Health Care Law Helps LGBT Americans

by Education & Outreach, June 1, 2010|Comments: 0

The health care law provides several new benefits to all Americans. Many of the benefits in the health care law are particularly important to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. By understanding what’s in the law, you can make better health care choices for you and your family.

Creates a new way to get health insurance

The health care law makes new coverage options available to Americans. This includes people without access to coverage through a spouse, domestic partner or employer.

People without insurance, small businesses and self-employed people will be able to buy health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace in your state. If you are eligible for insurance through the marketplace and do not purchase it, you will be subject to a penalty beginning in 2014.

Eliminates discriminatory insurance practices

Health insurance companies can no longer deny you health coverage because of a preexisting medical condition, such as cancer, HIV or AIDS.

Health insurance companies can no longer drop your health coverage just because you get sick.

New protections are also in place to limit excessive premium increases.

Insurance companies can no longer place lifetime or annual dollar limits on your health coverage—giving you peace of mind that your benefits won’t run out when you need them the most.

Lowers costs

You no longer have to pay some of the out-of-pocket costs for preventive care. This includes immunizations and screenings for certain cancers and diabetes.

Depending on your income, you may be able to get financial help to cover some of the costs for health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

If you have Medicare, you’ll qualify for an annual wellness visit, mammograms and other screenings for certain cancers and diabetes—at no additional cost to you.

If you reach the Medicare Part D coverage gap, you get discounts of more than 55 percent on brand-name prescription drugs and more than 35 percent on generic drugs while you are in the coverage gap. These discounts will gradually increase until the coverage gap disappears in 2020.

Expands coverage for adult children

If your plan covers dependents, you can now include them on your insurance policy until they turn 26.

Reduces health disparities

The Affordable Care Act makes considerable strides in addressing health disparities and advancing equality for people living with HIV or AIDS. Investments in prevention, as well as improving care coordination, will help people living with HIV/AIDS get the treatment they need.

Through increased research and data collection on health disparities, policymakers will have the knowledge and tools they need to continue to address the health needs of the LGBT community.

The Affordable Care Act expands initiatives to build a more diverse and culturally competent health care workforce, as well as invests in community health centers to help you manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.